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Editor Note: This series takes a close-up
look at the SBA's economic "clusters" designed to aid regional
businesses. Read the first installment on Minnesota.

The Carolinas have gorgeous beaches that attract tourists from
across the country, some of the most competitive college
basketball fans in their league, legendary pork barbeque, and,
perhaps less well-known across the country, a dominant and
growing nuclear energy industry.

North and South Carolina together supply 11.5 percent of the
entire nation's nuclear energy. While controversial for its
alleged risk, supporters of nuclear energy say it is a
sustainable energy source that doesn't harm the environment as
severely as burning coal does. North Carolina gets 32 percent of
its total electricity from five nuclear reactors currently in
operation in the state. And South Carolina gets 52 percent of its
electric power from its seven nuclear facilities.

Because there are so many nuclear power facilities in the
Carolinas, 54 business leaders, non-profits and academic
institutions have banded together to form the Carolinas' Nuclear Cluster, now part of
the Small Business Administration's regional cluster program.

In the past two years, the SBA has awarded $1.2
million to the Columbia, S.C., network, one of 10 regional
clusters in a pilot program designed to increase small-business
involvement and create jobs. As a result of the two-year project,
the Carolinas' Nuclear Cluster says it has created 437 jobs, in
addition to launching a number of business-development
initiatives that will likely translate into jobs in coming years.

When you think "nuclear energy," it's hard to imagine how a small
business could crack into the industry dominated by the likes of
Duke Energy and SCANA Corp. Not so. "I don't want people to think
this is only a land of big business," says Scott Carlberg,
manager of the Carolinas' Nuclear Cluster.

Small businesses generally participate in the nuclear industry by
supplying parts to the giant multinationals that do the actual
construction and processing. For entrepreneurs interested in
selling goods to bigger companies in the industry, the cluster
has held approximately eight "supplier sessions," where small
businesses learn how they will need to tighten their standards to
participate in the nuclear industry, Carlberg says.

Also, the Carolinas' Nuclear Cluster has provided on-site advice
to small-business owners interested in transitioning their
facility to serve the nuclear industry. Because of the stiff
regulations involved, it takes a significant modification of
existing facilities to be up to code. "If you can conform to the
quality specs of nuclear, that helps your entire operation
improve in quality, so that is a good thing," says Carlberg.

The Carolinas' Nuclear Cluster has also directed its SBA funding
to its Leadership Energy Carolinas program for upcoming industry
leaders. Industry professionals between the ages of 23 and 45 are
nominated by their cluster-member-business to participate in the
one-year professional development program.

One small business that's benefited is RCS Nuclear of Charlotte,
N.C. Back in 1997, RCS was an environmental and engineering
services company with revenue of $5 million a year. Now, RCS has
specialized to become a professional staffing company
specifically for the nuclear industry, and annual revenue tops
$30 million. Being part of the cluster helped RCS Nuclear develop
stronger relationships with nuclear clients, says Karen Garcia, a
co-owner. Also, the Leadership Energy Carolinas has helped train
its staff, she says.

And for industrial supply house Carotek in Matthews, N.C., being
a member of the cluster has meant increased industry exposure for
its 100-plus-employee business. A relatively new member of the
cluster, family-owned Carotek will be hosting an upcoming
Carolinas' Nuclear Cluster meeting at its facility. And being
part of the cluster also helped Carotek drum up attendees for the
company's recent trade show, Carlberg says.

Do you belong to a regional network or trade group,
and how has it helped your business? Leave a
comment below and let us know.